Posted 5 years ago on Feb. 3, 2013, 12:39 p.m. EST by TrevorMnemonic
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Unity Will Increase Our Power

Getting to the Next Level of Constructing a New Society Requires a Common Vision, Strategy and Unity

By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers

February 02, 2013 "Information Clearing House" - Once again the corporate mass media got the story wrong. Headlines across the country claimed that occupiers in New York came from households with incomes of over $100,000. The movement writer for The Nation, Allison Kilkenny, interviewed one of the researchers who points out that a lot of these were young people earning under $15,000 per year who were still in school and living with their parents.

The most important takeaway lesson from the researcher’s point of view:

“The takeaway for me is that this is part of an arch of social movement activity that built on previous work, and is building into continuing work.”

That struck us because we are working with political activists and occupiers across the country to develop a strategy to reach a more effective level of advocacy for transformation to a peaceful, just and sustainable society.

An article from Yes! Magazine, Occupy 2.0: The Great Turning, resonated with us pointing out that there are thousands of people working in movements around the world and that uniting them would create an unstoppable force. How do we unite in a way where we keep the diversity of multiple movements but still work together in solidarity? The answer in part is a common vision and strategic framework. The author, Michael Nagler of the Metta Center, puts forward a strategy they have been developing which they call “The Roadmap.” (The article links to a webinar on this approach.)

Their approach recommends a two track strategy similar to one we have emphasized from the beginning, Stop the Machine, Create a New World; or a resistance program of direct action and a constructive program of building what we want. This approach dates back to Gandhi and has been used in many transformative movements.In an article about the hidden history of economic democracy and how it relates to major social transformations throughout U.S. history, we summarized these two tracks by writing:

“History reinforces the idea that to achieve transformational change, we must proceed on twin tracks: protesting and building. Mahatma Gandhi changed his emphasis in the mid-1930s, a dozen years before independence from the British Empire, to work focused on building economically self-reliant communities from below (sardovaya, or social uplift for all). This became an adjunct to the strategy he is most known for, satyagraha (noncooperation and civil disobedience to unjust laws). Gandhian economics meant thousands of self-sufficient small communities with self-rule and the need for economic self-sufficiency at the village level joined together in a cooperative federation of village republics. This is bookended by the Gandhian social ideal of dignity of labor, equitable distribution of wealth, communal self-sufficiency and individual freedom.”

There is incredible work going on throughout the United States on both these tracks. Economic democracy is gaining a foothold in the U.S. putting in place the kind of economy we want. And resistance continues to grow. In the last ten days we have reported on the following protests:

Occupy Light Brigade Joining With Idle No More for Water Security and Recognition of Native Treaties

An Activist Disrupting the Kerry Nomination Hearing, Demands End to Military Aid to Israel

That is just in the past ten days! And, we have no doubt we are not reporting anywhere near all the protests that are occurring. As we found out when we were organizing the Occupation of Washington, DC at Freedom Plaza, Americans have been in revolt for a long time, the media just does not report it.

For a while Occupy brought a lot of movements together under the broad anti-Wall Street goal of economic fairness and justice; that was one reason the movement was not ignored. But now greater solidarity is needed, in order to show that there is a mass movement that people should be part of, a movement that can succeed in shifting power from concentrated wealth to the people.

One thing needed to bring the movement for social justice to the next level is unity. It will take many working together to achieve effective solidarity. At OccupyWashingtonDC/Ocober2011, we are considering what we can do to advance solidarity. We ask for your thoughts, write us at info@octobr2011.org. Of course, unity is not all that is needed, but it is one step.

In the meantime, realize that Americans are awakening and taking action. Whether they are helping to build cooperatives, community or public banks, community-supported agriculture and farmers markets or other more democratic economic institutions; or whether they are protesting the mistaken direction of the U.S. economy and government – a lot of good work is being done and we should rejoice that so many are working to create a new world.

Some upcoming events:

February 6, 2013: Flood the NY Federal Courthouse on in opposition to the NDAA, see here and here.

I do not see OWS survive as a unit. Too many agendas and personal wish lists. So many issues. Everyone with a cause has attached themselves to OWS to further their cause. We can’t do it all, it’s convoluted.

What I think will happen is, in time, OWS will splinter. Some folks will select, and work on, a few issues at a time. Others will continue to protest and rage against the system.

What is lacking is a plan, a strategy and focus. Continuing to say the system sucks won’t work. OWS needs to figure out what they will work on and how we will really effect change.

We have overcome! Regardless of how whoever makes whatever appear however leaves whenever so from here WE go. Some of the things I post are taken as crazy and so on though I have lived in the place where these things already are the reality it would be beneficial to us all if you reading this forum were helpful rather than beating me up so as to get to them this is my life that has been given for this cause I do await just a moment to have what you know as life. Once again I will start with what sounds huge though is not: Remove the operation of our nation into these United States leaving behind the district pretending to run things now "the fed" Why would we continue to pretend that it can be fixed when it is not even our country obviously they are not capable! It is simple just leave behind this entire mess that has been attacking our country since it was created to escape having to pay the very first soldiers coming for their pay-they did not get it because of Washington DC and this has been screwing us ever since. It was made for that purpose so to even give any possibility of it's repair is counter productive because it was not designed to help us and has grown so that it is not possible! Just start fresh with new HQ to run this country instantly it costs 1/2 the taxes and that is something all people will get behind and make happen. It is what they wait to hear Occupy say it is what every American heart trembling in fear while being made ill and working selves to death to pay to kill innocent children that they do not even want to be. It is paying with our entire country and all it stands for to torture people. IT WILL END Are you going to help? I had two more though this took toll so will stop.

This guy walks into a bar wearing a Lion jersey and carrying a little dog that also has a Lion jersey on with a little Lions helmet too. The guy says to the bartender, "Can my dog and I watch the Lions game here? My TV at home broke and my dog and I want to see the game."

The bartender replies, normally, dogs in the bar would not be allowed, but it is not terribly busy in here, so you and the dog can have a seat at the end of the bar. But, if there is any trouble with you or the dog, I'll have to ask you to leave.

The guy agrees and he and his dog start watching the game. Pretty soon the Lions kick a field goal and the little dog jumps on the bar and walks down the bar and gives everyone a high five.

The bartender says, "Hey, that's cool! What does he do for a touch down?"

Cute - I don't know if you watch football - but my god did that team have some really lousy seasons - after the 1st bad one you said my gosh put those players into depression therapy - the 2nd season you said wow what spirit the fans have not gone after em with tar and feathers to ride em out of town on a rail - after the 3rd season - it was incredible that the whole team was not isolated on a suicide watch.

lol. Ya. I don't watch football. I had a friend of mine that would tell me every little thing about a particular team that was necessary to make it through a game at a bar. So, he could watch football and I would go play video games.